Bärenfang[1] is a German honey-flavoured liqueur based on vodka. It is sometimes called Bärenjäger, especially in the English-speaking world.
Bärenfang means “bear trap”; Bärenjäger means “bear hunter.”
Bärenfang has an alcohol content of 30%–45% ABV (60–90 proof). In Germany, Bärenfang is often made at home since the basic recipe and many variations of it are readily available. Most homemade Bärenfang is based on vodka, but some recipes with a higher alcohol content are based on neutral spirit.
Bärenfang is always made with honey from nectar because honey from honeydew may have a bitter aftertaste.
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The liqueur was first developed in eastern Prussia (East Prussia) in the 15th century. Bärenjäger was the first commercial brand of Bärenfang produced in the capital city of Koenigsberg; it is now produced by the Teucke & Koenig company in the town of Steinhagen, Germany. A picture of a fur trapper trapping a bear is shown on bottles of Teucke & Koenig’s Bärenjäger.
Today, Teucke & Koenig is owned by Schwarze & Schlichte, located in the town of Oelde in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Schwarze & Schlichte also make another brand of Bärenfang that is bottled at 33% ABV (66 proof).
The Bärenfang produced by Teucke & Koenig is widely exported, and therefore the name “Bärenjäger” is commonly used outside of Germany. There are other producers of Bärenfang in Germany, but their products are less often available in other countries.
Barenjager has been reviewed by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Wine Enthusiast. In the case of the former, Barenjager was given a gold medal (in 2011). The latter rated Barenjager in its "85-89" category. Proof66's averaging of these scores produces an overall score that classifies it as a "Tier 1" spirit. [2]
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